How to Hit a Ball Above or Below your Feet

Now that we know how to hit a ball on an ‘uphill or downhill lie’, we should review how to hit a shot with the ball above or below your feet. You may have heard the expression that ‘your ball will FLY downhill’ when hitting a shot with the ball lying ‘above or below’ your feet. It is a good way to remember to align your shot accordingly and the more lofted the club you are hitting, the more you will have to compensate. For you right-handers, aim a little to the left of your target when the ball is below your feet, and to the right when the ball is above your feet.

For extreme versions of the ball above your feet, it can be a good idea to choke down a little on a less lofted club and open the face slightly to minimize the effect of the slope on ball flight. For extreme versions of the ball below your feet it is important to get your center of gravity as low as possible so take a wider stance and flex your knees a little more to get the club head to reach farther down the hill without having to bend at the hips as much. In either of these extreme conditions it is also important to take a practice swing somewhere nearby your ball with a similar sloped condition to see where your club will bottom out, and then properly gauge where to play the ball in your stance for the shot. The practice swing will also indicate the level of balance and stability you will need for the shot, and there will be times where you may have to swing a little easier and take more club in order to remain standing in your finish position.